Africa

Somalia: America’s latest front in the war on Terror

The visit by US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton to Africa and her meeting with Somalia President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed brings back into sharp focus the ongoing instability which is Somalia considered by the UN as having one of the worst humanitarian crisis in Africa. Aid groups now believe one third of the country or almost 4 million people need food aid.

It seems like in Pakistan and Afghanistan, America is intent on using the War on Terror as a convenient pretext to execute its wider foreign policy goals. Somalia which has seen almost two decades of chaos and conflict, had started to enjoy some stability in the second half of 2006 until America’s proxy Ethiopia decided to brutally invade the country to remove the Supreme Islamic Courts Council (SICC), thus leading to over 1 million refugees who have now been displaced from the ensuing fighting. Yet despite all this suffering America is now threatening countries like Eritrea and those opposing Somalia’s transitional government with a view of escalating action in the horn of Africa alongside its current military operations in Afghanistan and Pakistan. As many had predicted America’s foreign policy goals have not altered in substance at all since the change of occupant in the Whitehouse in 2009.

Myths

There is a major myth that surrounds Somalia. Firstly that Somalia is a natural failed state always in the midst of a civil war between competing actors, first tribal warlords, then between secular and Islamic factions and now between moderate Islamists under Sharif and the more radical elements within Al Shabab. However though this is partly true, it is also clear that there has been significant foreign interference from countries like the United States and her allies, specifically Ethiopia who has engaged in a bloody war financed by her western masters under the so called War on Terror. Spurred on and financed by the Bush Whitehouse in 2006, the Ethiopian army massacred scores of civilians, committed untold war crimes and was actively supported by increasing numbers of American military strikes under the pretence that the SICC was a front for extremism. This was despite numerous independent reports that cited the significant benefits that SICC had brought in terms of stabilising Somalia. Officially having withdrawn from Somalia in January 2009, Ethiopian troops remain engaged in Somalia intervening when necessary to ensure western interests are achieved. Coupled with the Ethiopian influence is the pernicious occupation of African Union Troops who officially present for peacekeeping, are in cahoots with delivering western objectives in the country.

Sheikh Sharif though on paper the President of Somalia is actually the president of his own living room, as his militia barely controls any of the country. Sharif having been in exile for almost two years (a portion of the time interrogated by US embassy officials in Kenya) before he ascended to the Presidency, has a minimal political base in the country and has no real authority. Even the vote to elect Sharif as President was taken by the transitional parliament in neighbouring Djibouti as it was too dangerous to do it in Somalia. Sharif’s meeting with Clinton was also outside the country, as it was deemed too risky for the former first lady to travel. Sharif who was formerly the head of the political wing of the SICC has now been embraced by Ethiopia and America as their proxy believing that he can block stronger Islamic elements coming into power. Hilary Clinton’s clear support for the current transitional government is a clear attempt to consolidate Sharif’s position politically while continuing to support his militia with weapons directly and indirectly via Ethiopia. In addition by continuing to support Sharif against so called extremist elements, America can continue its longer term aim to justify a full military presence in Africa via its new command AFRICOM

AFRICOM: Another Colonial Tool

Intended to address Africa’s emerging strategic importance to the United States, AFRICOM has consolidated all of Africa except Egypt under one geographic combatant command (it was formerly divided among three). AFRICOM commenced its operational life in October 2008 and aimed initially to have an operational headquarters in Africa, however Washington has been unable to persuade any of its regional allies as yet to host its command operation. America’s principal strategic concerns at this time according to commentators including the US private forecasting group Stratfor are:

1. Fostering maritime security and stability in the oil-rich Gulf of Guinea region, where Nigeria exercises considerable influence;

2. Combating piracy off the coast of the Horn of Africa

3. Denying sanctuary to international terrorist organizations;

4. Undermining the spread of radical Islam in the Horn of Africa and across North Africa.

Scramble for Africa

As can be seen from these objectives, America is actively interested in the African continent as evidenced that both President Obama and Secretary of State Hilary Clinton have both visited the continent in their first few months of ascending to office. America is also concerned about China’s growing footprint in Africa, with Beijing steadily increasing her influence and economic clout in many countries. Driven by its relentless pursuit of mineral and other resources China has been striking several high profile deals on the continent which has got Washington extremely nervous that it is losing the continent to its eastern rival. One of the criticisms of the Bush administration by many analysts including some who now serve in the current administration is that America was becoming so bogged down in Iraq that it took its eye off the ball in many other crucial areas of the globe including places like Africa. Concerns about oil, mineral resources, Chinese influence and the strategic importance of key waterways are obviously important to Washington but so is the concern that the |Islamic ideology will become dominant in the horn of Africa aligning itself with the greater Middle East. Indeed many in the Pentagon are now openly saying that there has been a migration of extremists travelling from Afghanistan and Pakistan to states like Somalia and Yemen. By articulating this, it is clear that Washington is now openly extending its current war in South Asia to the horn of Africa under the pretext of national security and defeating terrorism.

What is therefore concerning is that Somalia and Africa have become the latest front in America’s desire to control the resources of the world. America under every President continues the same policies of supporting brutal leaders who can best protect their geopolitical interests whether it be in the Middle East, South Asia or in Africa. Rather than spend a few hundred billion dollars (a fraction of what it has spent to protect the large banks) which would wipe poverty and disease off the African continent, America continues to believe that military occupation, missile strikes and massive political interference in other countries internal affairs remains the best strategy. Indeed unbelievably Hilary Clinton on her visit to Kenya had the gall to say that Eritrea’s intrusion in Somalia’s affairs was unacceptable, yet said nothing either about Ethiopia’s or Washington’s actions over recent years. All foreign intrusion including massive American interference is unacceptable and asking for more foreign troops to occupy Somalia as Sharif has, is just throwing more oil on the fire.

Somalia was stable in 2006, yet this was not sufficient for the United States who wanted a puppet and absolute control in Mogadishu. In doing so they are directly responsible for the violence and instability that now characterize Somalia. Of course the US will always act in their national interest regardless of who is President, yet why deny this principle to the rest of the world. The biggest security threat to the peoples of Cairo, Damascus and Mogadishu are not plans hatched from Somalia or the horn of Africa but those that emanate on a daily basis from Washington, Tel Aviv and London. A country that led the world in the commercial exploitation of slaves from Africa in the 19th century now continues to play politics with the lives of ordinary Africans in the 21st century through supporting illegitimate leaders like Sharif and the brutal Ethiopian military. Fear of the return of the Khilafah stretching from Asia to the horn of Africa keeps American policymakers awake at night and helps to explain America’s militaristic policy. This is not a paranoid view as can be seen from AFRICOM’s agenda and according to opinion polls carried out by for instance by the University of Maryland significant majority of Muslims support the establishment of a unified Khilafah in the Muslim world, the establishment of such an entity is therefore not a question of if but when. And it is also no coincidence that Nigeria and Angola the continent’s two leading oil exporters have become Washington’s best friends as it seeks alternatives to the volatile supply from the Middle East. Africa has therefore yet again become a continent where the major powers are competing for the continents key resources. America, China and Europe are all seeking to colonise the continent as their predecessors did in prior ages.

Therefore the following points should be noted

1. Somalia like the majority of the Muslim world in modern times has faced the scourge of western supported occupation ever since Napoleon landed in Egypt in 1799. Regardless of the century or decade, western leaders have found some pretext to occupy the Muslim world whether it be to attack the Ottoman caliphate, enhance commerce, act against the nationalisation of oil, deal with proxy leaders which have fallen out of favour or counter weapons of mass destruction, the pretexts and lies have been endless.

2. Added to this now, is the latest pretext, the need to stop piracy and extremism a rationale which even some western commentators believe to be counter productive as Somalia continues to suffer.

3. There should therefore be a complete withdrawal of all foreign forces in Somalia and the wider region. Continued presence of foreign forces and influence cannot add to developing good governance or stability in the country.

4. Fourthly any kind of ethnic or tribal division of Somalia along the lines of some kind of Iraqi partition should be rejected.

5. Fifthly though there is chronic violence in Somalia today it is not a civil war of al Shabab against the transitional government as some would simplistically conclude. There are numerous conflicts going on in Somalia many of them involving foreign countries and AU peacekeepers.

6. Sixthly it is clear that for there to be real economic empowerment for the citizens of Somalia, the cartel of warlords, pirates and warring tribes must be broken up.

7. Lastly America’s involvement in Somalia cannot be separated from its wider destabilizing strategy in the Middle East and South Asia. The occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan is now developing into a more sinister war in Pakistan and Somalia through repeated missile attacks, proxy wars and covert operations. This therefore clearly illustrates that America’s agenda post Iraq is to continue its strategy to weaken important countries in the Muslim world.

To solve not just the instability of Somalia but of the rest of the Muslim world therefore requires a higher goal to be aspired to. Violence targeting other Muslims should be rejected as this is what the enemies of Islam want, to pit Muslim against Muslim, to pit brother against brother to pit tribe against tribe. This is the American plan of divide and rule in Afghanistan and Pakistan and this is what America seeks to do in Somalia by supporting Sharif and his militia against Al Shabab to ensure any kind of resistance to the United States is crushed.

Therefore only a constructive and coherent effort at re-establishing the Khilafah can address this problem. Only with a comprehensive elimination of the current constitution, judiciary and systems, and their replacement with the constitution, judiciary and systems of the Islamic Khilafah can the direction of countries like Somalia be comprehensively changed for the better. After the failed experiments of warlords, anarchy and foreign occupation, it is only the Khilafah that can bring stability, accountability and prosperity back to the political system, develop strong economic foundations for the state and really ensure political decisions on the future of countries like Somalia are made at home and not in Washington. It is only the Khilafah that has the track record of uniting Arab, Asian and African of uniting white, brown and black under the Islamic aqeedah. It can only be the Khilafah that can bring an end to the rule of warlords, despots and pirates. It can only be the Khilafah that can be trusted with key resources which would be utilized for the benefit of the many and not the few. It can only be the Khilafah that can end foreign occupation and political interference and bring stature and respect back again to the Muslim world.

What is becoming increasingly clear is that the Muslim world lacks a coherent presence in the international arena to address issues such as those that emanate in Somalia. By remaining divided and split into 50 plus states, it becomes easier for outside powers to manipulate the situation and undermine our security, just look at Iraq, Afghanistan and Palestine. What Muslims need to do is remove their current leaderships, unify their resources and implement the Islamic Khilafah (Caliphate) system. Only then can the Muslim world adequately confront all the challenges of the 21st century and compete effectively with the leading nations of the world.